Well done on making it to the end of the Ethics module, we hope you now have an appreciation for the ethical and legal considerations of becoming a personal trainer and understanding the implications that they can have on your day-to-day business.
We started this module with a deep dive into the current state of health and fitness globally and in New Zealand. Some of the figures and content may have been confronting. The good news is that you are embarking on a career where you can have a positive impact. You then completed a self-assessment pre-screen to check your current health and fitness. You met some of the teaching team, heard their stories, and shared your own. We also looked at the importance of resilience.
Then we dove into the different codes of ethics that apply to personal trainers, we discussed what can happen when you don’t abide by these codes, and the importance of sticking to them for the safety, comfort, and privacy of your clients.
After that we looked at some important legislation applicable to personal trainers to ensure you are giving the best service to your clients and abiding by the laws of New Zealand.
The last section focused on appropriate communication techniques that you will need to build upon and upskill throughout this programme so that you come out on the other side feeling confident in your ability to build rapport, give feedback, and communicate appropriately with different potential clients or other colleagues.
Ensure you have a clear understanding of the following before moving on:
- REPs and Exercise NZ codes of ethical practice
- Legislation including Consumer Guarantee, Privacy, and Health & Safety at Work Acts
- Client safety practices, especially the Exercise Professional / ACC Best practice guidelines for injury prevention and management document
- The importance of appropriate and professional verbal and non-verbal communication, and giving good feedback to your clients
Remember an important part of study is self-directed learning. Research the areas of this module that intrigued you, but also those that challenged you. Here’s some suggestions for further learning.
Read
- Fittest City New Zealand: A snapshot of New Zealand’s Life, Health and Wellbeing
- 19+ Statistics and Facts About the Fitness Industry (2022)
- A Guide to Working in the New Zealand Exercise Industry by the NZ Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
- News and updates from Sport and Exercise New Zealand (SESNZ)
- Industry News from ExerciseNZ
- ACSM Fitness Trends
- Coaching Fitness Clients Toward Behavior Change by National Federation of Professional Trainers
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